I resigned from the Greenfield Human Rights Commission in October, in protest. The behavior of Mayor Roxann Wedegartner and her lack of engagement with the commission (other than to criticize or control) was insulting at best. I could no longer serve on the commission because I felt I was colluding and sacrificing my integrity.

The actions of the mayor this past month: her engagement of the town in facilitated conversations, which looked good but were never intended to have an impact on choices made. I imagine that if we were told we’d have these conversations but nothing would change, folks may not have showed up in the way we did. But it was clear there was never a willingness to be swayed as demonstrated by the mayor’s announcement at the final “conversation” that the chief would stay as long as he wanted to serve. And then, the next day, to announce, front page of the Recorder, that an appeal of the Buchanan court case was filed! The time and commitment of all of us in attendance for the three sessions was an exercise in “hear them out, make it look good.”

These actions alone had my ire up. I felt manipulated … I felt we were all manipulated. And moreover, I found myself extremely disappointed that our “leaders” will continue on the path they have set out, with no sense of accountability.

At this point I digress for a moment.

Recently, on the PBS News Hour, there was a segment on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam who faced a scandal involving a racist photograph. While he decided not to resign, he chose to focus on reconciliation. It has never been proven that the photograph was in fact him. Still, he used the opportunity to apologize, to acknowledge systemic racism and to take action.

A new book by Margaret Edds is called “What the Eyes Can’t See.” I suggest and would appreciate the mayor and Police Chief Robert Haigh Jr. read the book … perhaps we could have a townwide read of it in February or March, with another facilitated conversation at the end of the month. Hmmm.

To return to my disappointment at further displays of the mayor’s autocratic style, I was outraged to know that she has not reappointed Daniel Cantor Yalowitz to the Greenfield Human Rights Commission.

Without going into the many reasons Daniel has been an asset to the commission and the city, I will say that his democratic, inclusive, ego-less and highly skilled leadership is unfortunately not often seen in volunteer government … especially in our town. Further, under his leadership, we had actually gotten involved with our city, as Wid Perry so eloquently stated in his recent My Turn column.

Without the mayor articulating her reasons for non-reappointment, I can only conjecture from what I’ve seen. If you do not agree with the mayor, you are out! She will do her best to silence your voice, or at least remove any power she feels she gave it. Her effectual removal of Daniel from the GHRC is a slap in the face of democracy at least, and feels like an abuse of power. Just because you are “within your rights” does not mean that the action is right!

Your many choices, mayor, from fighting against ensuring our properties are environmentally clean and safe, to denying racist concerns in our system, to now removing a most effective commissioner on a Human Rights Commission that has struggled to maintain even a quorum … reek of disrespect for your constituents and our rights. I am so disappointed in you.

And just for clarity … there was mention of a desire to have a retreat where the Human Rights commissioners could get to know one another and set some goals. Our (yes: “our”) intention in attempting to do so, was to bring best practices from our pooled experiences in building effective organizations and teams, into government. For such an innovation, there is condemnation?

It all stems from the same source, an unwillingness to respond to the needs of the community if they do not match the mayor’s point of view. Please watch the PBS Segment https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/a-scandal-rocked-virginias-governor-heres-what-happened-next and read the book.

I don’t know if Daniel would consider returning to the Human Rights Commission, but I certainly hope the mayor will reconsider her decision and reappoint Daniel to the HRC.

May 2023 bring us together to create a more equitable city.

Wendy Goodman lives in Greenfield.

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